Biography

Special clubcall from the German Amateur Radio Club (DARC):
Club-group "Steinhuder Meer" - DOK: H35


History about the Call "OUI":
In 1913, the overseas transmitter at Eilvese (northwest of Hannover, Northern Germany) became finished.

From here the first radio contact was established between Germany and the USA.

The "Funkenturm (spark tower) Eilvese" named after the small nearby village of Eilvese was considered to be Germany's highest construction. It was built within the moor area of the nearby "Steinhuder Meer" (Lake Steinhude). Even that time, it was well known that a "good ground" is essential.

Marconi had already transmitted from England across the Atlantic Ocean to Newfoundland, and lateron Transmitter Nauen (near Berlin) had transmitted to Canada, but no transatlantic radio traffic between Germany and the USA had taken place so far. On October 14, 1913, the "Funkenturm" (callsign "OUI") as called in local common speech, started its first radio traffic with the USA, namely with its sister station at Tuckerton, N.J. (callsign "WSC").

Official inauguration of Eilvese Wireless took place by Kaiser Wilhelm II in June 1914 only. The Kaiser sent a greetings telegram to the US President Woodrow Wilson. Very Low Frequency meaning the 14,000 meter band was used.

On occasion of the centennial of Eilvese Wireless in 2013, radio amateurs of Tuckerton (callsign W2WSC/100) took contact to radio amateurs in the surrounding of former Eilvese Wireless (callsign DL100OUI). This special callsign DL100OUI was limited during the year 2013 by the telecommunication authority.

The DARC-chapter "Steinhuder Meer" reminds to the history of the radio pioneers of Eilvese Wireless ("OUI") using the new club callsign "DA0OUI". More than 100 years ago, these pioneers met the tremendous challenge to transmit a radio signal across the Atlantic Ocean to America.

Please take a look to W2WSC, the radio amateurs of Tuckerton.

73 de Ronald
DL6AM

www.amateurfunk-steinhude.

Equipment

100W, FD4 - 10meters over ground